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For as long as PFAS persist in the environment, there is no doubt they will persist in our conversations as environmental scientists. Globally, PFAS contamination has been detected in water supplies, soil and even in the blood of people and wildlife. Different countries are at various stages of addressing PFAS contamination and many governments have set regulatory limits and are working on assessing the extent of contamination, cleaning up affected sites and researching safer alternatives.

In this post we will explore what we saw in 2024 with the latest PFAS news and regulations, what we can expect from 2025 and how we can help you be best prepared for the future.

What happened

In 2024, we saw some significant updates to restrictions and regulations of PFAS. In April the EPA announced the final National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) for six PFAS, releasing the Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) for PFOA and PFOS limited to 4 parts per trillion (ppt) and PFHxS, PFNA and HFPO-DA are limited to 10 ppt ⁽¹⁾. These new strict standards are helping to protect exposure risk and exceed any limit set by state laws and those advisory levels set in 2016 at 70 ppt. With these in mind, the EPA requires public water systems to:

• Monitor for these PFAS, giving them three years to complete initial monitoring
• Provide the public with information on PFAS levels in their drinking water by 2027
• Implement solutions within five years that reduce these PFAS
• Actwhere PFAS exceeds the MCLs and provide notification to public, beginning in 2029.

It’s not just in the US we have seen restriction changes. The European Commission took action in September 2024 by adopting new measures to protect human health and the environment by restricting the use of PFHxA and PFHxA-related substances ⁽²⁾. Often used as a substitute for another banned PFAS, PFOA, the restriction is significant in reducing emissions.

The new restriction will ban the sale and use of PFHxA in consumer textiles, food packaging, cosmetics and certain firefighting foam applications without compromising safety. However, it does not affect PFHxA use in semiconductors, batteries or fuel cells for green hydrogen.

Another source of environmental contamination from PFAS which are not yet regulated, but sparked conversations and research in 2024 are lithium-ion batteries (LiBs). A lifetime study on the environmental impacts of bis-FASI use in LiBs was conducted in July 2024 ⁽³⁾. The concern grows here when we consider the future of energy – Lithium-ion batteries are a large factor but now display even bigger implications. In addition to this, most of these batteries don’t get recycled and end up in landfill, in-turn contaminating the environment in the future. This has us thinking, what could we expect to see from 2025?

What’s happening next

As health concerns related to PFAS and human exposure continue to rise, we anticipate regulations only becoming stricter globally. There is significant uncertainty surrounding the direction of the new Trump administration, with various changes and shifts in policies. The importance of being prepared for future regulations is vital. In most recent updates, the EPA has released a draft risk assessment of PFOA and PFOS in biosolids to help advance scientific understanding and by providing this, stakeholders have access to data and reports that, when finalized, may help determine whether Clean Water Act regulations are suitable or need re-consideration ⁽⁴⁾. This year, we are expecting to see a spotlight on the environmental impact layer of the PFAS lifecycle, including wastewater and soil. Water municipalities and governments are most likely going to be searching for more sources of contamination in aid to help minimize human exposure to these “forever chemicals”.

On January 1^st bans on textile articles and apparel containing PFAS took effect in California and New York ⁽⁵⁾. These regulations mandate stricter standards and increase transparency in supply chains. In recent developments, France has proposed a national ban on PFAS that will encompass their use in textiles. Meanwhile, Denmark is also moving forward with its own initiative to eliminate PFAS from consumer products. The Danish government has expressed its intention to ban the presence of these harmful substances in clothing, shoes, and impregnation products sold to consumers ⁽⁶⁾. As a result, manufacturers around the world will have to adapt to comply with new standards. This could lead to significant changes to manufacturing processes and we wouldn’t be surprised if in 2025 we see a ripple effect encouraging other states, regions and countries to adopt similar regulations.

There have also been advancements within other regions. In Japan, residents are increasingly concerned and questioning whether the government is doing enough to address the issues. An ongoing study measuring PFAS blood concentrations, analyzed by experts at Okayama University and Kawasaki Medical School has been the first publicly funded test and we are expecting to see new PFAS regulations for drinking water by spring to help counter the spread in water supplies nationwide ⁽⁷⁾.

As scientific understanding of the impacts of PFAS’ improves, governments worldwide continue to implement stricter regulations and testing requirements. Organizations must stay informed and proactive to ensure compliance, avoid potential penalties and protect public health and the environment. This involves staying updated on regulatory changes, investing in appropriate testing technologies, and adopting best practices for managing PFAS contamination. Ensure you are prepared for the future and discover how the latest technology from SCIEX enables increased sensitivity and quantitation of these chemicals to help minimize the implications of changing regulations and testing.

Achieving exceptional robustness for PFAS analysis in food with the next-generation SCIEX 7500+ system   Read the technical note >

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References

1. https://www.epa.gov/sdwa/and-polyfluoroalkyl-substances-pfas
2. https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_24_4763
3. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-49753-5
4. https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-releases-draft-risk-assessment-advance-scientific-understanding-pfoa-and-pfos
5. https://www.morganlewis.com/pubs/2024/11/new-york-and-california-bans-on-pfas-in-textiles-and-apparel-begin-january-1-2025
6. https://www.eea.europa.eu/en/analysis/publications/pfas-in-textiles-in-europes-circular-economy
7. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/12/03/japan/society/pfas-ishiba-comment/